Connecter device



April 27, 1937. J. B, wlsNER CONNECTER DEVICE Filed Aug. 10, 1955 Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES Pii'riaiir OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for connecting electrical conductors together, the principal object of the invention being to provide a novel device by means of which two insulated electrical conductors may be connected together rapidly and with a minimum of effort and without the necessity of removing any of the insulation from the conductors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple water-proof device which is small and compact and at the same time efficiently serves the purpose in view. The device is particularly adaptable for use in connection with electrical signaling systems, telephone systems and the like. It may be readily carried about and easily manipulated even under conditions of poor visibility such as at night.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a simple device of this nature which comprises only two cooperative parts which may be very easily manipulated.

These and other objects of the invention, as well as the features thereof may be clearly understood from the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the assembled device;

Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a. sectional View taken through the device centrally thereof;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View or one of the parts of the device;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along line 5-,5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the part shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan View illustrating the disposition 4of the conductors associated with the device; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view o f the assembled device showing a conductor associated therewith.

Referring to the several vie s of the drawing, the device comprises a pair o attachable parts I and 2, the part I comprising an outer casing 3 formed of insulating material, such as Bakelite, and a member 4 seated snugly within and secured to the casing 3. The member 4 may be formed of any suitable metal, although it may be formed of any other material having the characteristics necessary for the operation described hereinafter.

The edge ofthe cup-shaped casing 3 is flared outward, as at 5, for a purpose which will appear later. The inset member 4 preferably comprises a solid body 6 havinga central threaded opening 'i and an annular tapered blunt edge 8 surrounding the central opening. Between the central opening and the annular blunt edge 8 there is provided a substantially flat annular surface 9. It will be seen that the solid body 6 projects out of the casing 3, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 8.

The part 2 of the device comprises an outer cup-shaped casing l@ which is also formed of insulating material, such as Bakelite. The annular edge of this casing is also flared outward at Ii for a purpose which will appear presently. Within the casing iii, there is snugly seated and secured a cup-shaped metallic member I2 which carries a centrally located extending threaded shank i3 which is adapted for insertion in the threaded opening ll of the part l. Spaced from the threaded shank and surrounding the same, there is provided an annular sharp edge I 4. This edge is of slightly less diameter than the `blunt edge 8, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, to enable the parts to cooperate in a manner described hereinafter. Adjacent the sharp edge I4, there is provided an annular recess l5, the purpose of which will be explained later.

The cylindrical wall oi the metallic member i2 extends beyond the insulating casing iii, as shown clearly in Fig. 4i and the extended portion of the member i2 is provided with diametrically opposed openings i6 which are adapted to receive a pair of conductors from opposite sides of the device, as shown in Fig. 7. Between the flared edge portions 5 and ii of the insulating outer casings, Vand surrounding the extended portion of the metallic member l2, there is provided a loose composite washer which comprises a soft rubber washer il cemented to a hard liber washer I8 (see Figs. 3 and 8). When the parts of the device are screwed together, this composite washer occupies the annular space between the ared edges of the outer insulating casings, sealing the said space against the admission of moisture. The ber' washer iii is preferably slightly larger in diameter than the rubber washer I1 so that the composite washer may be manipulated and properly arranged by feel, thus facilitating the use of the device under conditions of poor visibility.

The metal inset members 4 and I2 are preferably provided with integral projections or lugs on their outer cylindrical surfaces, as shown at. r

I9 in Fig. 7, so that when the bakelite casings are molded about the inset members, such members are inter-locked with and secured to their respective casings. The outer cylindrical surfaces of the casings 3 and I0 are preferably fluted, as

shown in Fig. 1, to facilitate tightening of the parts.

In using the. device, the parts are separated and ends of the conductors to be connected together are inserted through the openings I6 of the part 2 from opposite sides thereof, as shown in Fig. '1. Abutment of the ends of the insulated conductors with thel central threaded shank I3 causes the conductor ends to take positions on opposite sides of the screw shank, as shown in Fig. 7. It has been found that this takes place or may be easily caused to take place when diametrically opposed openings I5 are employed. But, if desired, the openings I6 may be slightly oiset with respect to one another to insure the disposition of the conductor ends illustrated. With the conductor ends thus positioned within the part 2, the composite washer is put into place with the soft rubber` washer I1 engaging the conductors. The washer is held down upon the conductors and serves to maintain them in place, while the part I is threadedly attached to the part 2 as clearly illustrated. As the part I ls screwed into place, the washer and the at annular surface of the flared edge I I grip the conductors, the insulation being flattened at that point, as shown in Fig. 8, and the soft rubberwasher being compressed about the insulated conductor to form a moisture-proof seal. The hard ber washer I8 serves as a backing for the soft rubber washerand lengthens the life of the rubber washer. It will be seen that as the part I Jis screwed into place, the hard ber washer is subjected to the friction occasioned by the turning of part ,I so that the soft rubber washer is fully protected.

As the part I is screwed into place, the annular blunt edge 8 and the nat annular surface 8 force the conductors against the sharp edge I4, and the blunt edge 8 forces the conductors adjacent edge 8 into the annular recess I5 and jams the insulated conductors against the wall of member I2. It will be seen that a reverse bend or kink is put in the conductors,V as shown clearly in Fig. 8. 'I'he sharp edge 8 bites into the insulation of the conductors and contacts the conductor cores. 'Ihus the conductors are electrically connected through .the metallic member I2. At the same time, the conductors are securely fastened within the device so that it is impossible to pull the conductors vout of the device without separating the parts thereof.

It will be seen from 'the illustration and foregoing description that theI device is simple in construction andmay be made very small so that it may be easily carried about. It will also be seen that the device may be easily manipulated and may be used to advantage in any instance where it is desired .to rapidly connect two conductors' together. Although a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invena second part attachable to said first part, and a.

recessed projection on said second part having an annular blunt edge adapted to enter said annular recess, whereby said conductors are pressed against said sharp edge and are forced into said annular recess and wedged against saidV side wall when said parts are attached together.

2. A device for connecting insulated electrical conductors, comprising a cup-shaped part having openings in its side wall for the reception of said conductors, an annular sharp metallic projecting edge on said part located concentrically with respect to said side wall, wherebyvan annular recess is provided between said edge and said side wall, a central threaded shank extending from said part, a second part having a central threaded opening to receive said shank, and a recessed projection on said second part having an annular blunt edge adapted to enter said annular recess, whereby said conductors are pressed against said sharp edge and are forced into said annular recess and wedged against said side wall when said parts are attached together.

3. A device for connecting insulated electrical conductors, comprising a cup-shaped part having openings in its side wall for the reception of said conductors, a continuous sharp metallic projecting edge on said part located in spaced relation to saidside wall, whereby a continuous recess is provided between said edge and said side wall, a second part attachable to said first part, and a recessed projection on said second part having a continuous blunt edge adapted to enter said recess, whereby said conductors are pressed against said sharp edge and are forced into said recess and wedged against said side wall when said parts 'a second part attachable to said first part, and

means on said second part for pressing said con-I ductors against said edge portions and for forcing the conductors into said recess areas in wedging engagement with said wall portions.

5. A device for electrically connecting two insulated electrical conductors, comprising a part having wall portions adapted to receive the ends of said conductors, a metallic member carried by said part having sharp edge portions in spaced cooperative relation with said wall portions, whereby a recess area is provided between each said edge portion and its associated wall portion, a second part attachable to said first part. and a projection on said second part having blunt edge portions adapted to enter said recess areas, whereby said conductors are pressed against said sharp edge portions and are forced into said recess areas and wedged against said wall portions when said parts are attached together.

6. A device for electrically connecting two insulated electrical conductors, comprising a cupshaped part having opposed side wall portions with openings for the reception of the ends of said conductors., a metallic member carried by said part having sharp edge portions in spaced cooperative relation with said wall portions, whereby s recess area is provided between each said edge portion and its associatedwall portion.

a second part attachable,` to said rst part, andv means on said second part for pressing said conductors against said edge portions and for forcing the conductors into saidrecess areas in wedging engagement with said wall portions.

7. A device for electrically connecting two insulated electrical conductors, comprising a cupshaped part having opposed side wall portions with openings for the reception oi the ends of 5 said conductors, a metallic member carried by said part having sharp edge portions in spaced cooperative relation with said wall portions, l whereby a recess area Ais provided between each said edge portion and its associated wall portion, .0 a second part attachable to said rst part, and a projection on said second part having blunt edge portions adapted to enter said recess areas, whereby said conductors are pressed against said sharp edge portions and are forced into said l5 recess areas and wedged against said wall portions when said parts are attached together.

8. A device for electrically connecting two insulated electrical conductors, comprising a relatively deep cup-shaped part having openings in 20 its side wall near the edge thereof for ythe reception of the ends oi! said conductors, a metallic Jmember carried by said part having sharp edge portions extending from the bottom of said part in spaced cooperative relation with the apertured Z5 portion's'of said wal1, whereby a recess area is provided between eachlsaid edge portion and its to said rst part, and means on said second part ior pressing said conductors against said edge portions and for i'orcing the conductors into said recess areas in wedging engagement with said wall portions.

9. A device for electrically connecting two insulated electrical conductors, comprising a relatively deep cup-shaped part having openings in part having `blunt edge portions adapted to enter said recess areas, whereby said conductors are pressed against said sharp edge portions and are forced into said recess areas and wedged against said wall portions when said parts are attached together.

JOSIAH B. WISNER.

l d 3 associated wall portion, a second partattachable 

